Category: Press

Metro Home & Entertaining has two “scoop” homes in its current issue: the dream home built by the reclusive, little known but internationally successful designer Renato Vidal and the remarkable new home of the famous but very private broadcast journalist Ces Drilon.

This issue will be out in the stands on Feb 10. Urban Zone viewers will recognize one of the “scoop” homes. I featured it my show last year. It was also a popular post in this blog. I had to protect the identity of the owner for privacy reasons.

Get this issue, and you’ll know who the owner is. And you’ll see more of that fantastic place.

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It feels great to be starting the year with a magazine cover. Clickr, a TV lifestyle guide, put me on the cover this month. They shot me just before Christmas while I was shooting for Urban Zone. So yes, you have seen this outfit somewhere. I like the cover. It’s fresh. It’s a real smile. I look very friendly. Nothing fierce haha.

It is sweet because Clickr is a magazine about TV shows. Their previous covers had been network stars like Kim Atienza, Boy Abunda and Karen Davila. So for a non-network, non-star, non-primetime host like me to be their cover, means something. These days I’m getting most interviewed about my blog, my products and my advocacies not so much about my show. I have forgotten that first and foremost, I am a TV creature. And Urban Zone, despite its airing at the ungodly hour of 1:30AM, has made a huge impact in the industries of design, architecture and real estate. Thank you Clickr, for recognizing us.

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A few weeks ago, I spent an afternoon at Ito Kish’ store in Nicanor Garcia St, Makati. Our friend, Carlo Tadiar asked us to do a spread for his magazine, Metro Home. The idea was to ask three designers to set up the same exact table and corner. Carlo invited me, Ito and Miguel Rosales. I tried to say no and stalled as long as I can. Busy was an understatement. But eventually it pushed thru and we had fun while doing it.

And how the opening spread looks like. Yes, I included a Daphne chair in the background.

I chose to do a tea party setting – something young, playful and feminine. I was thinking of my kids while choosing my items. These photos were taken using my Olympus PEN EP3. I was playing with the art filters.

It all started with this set of stackable square plates. I found them in Dimensione. Loved the Palladian architecture details printed on them.

Then I saw the grass-like place mats. So instead of doing something ultra modern and architectural, I went the playful route.

And I couldn’t not have these. Fell in love with the print and packaging of these precious soaps in Dimensione. I had to have them in the photo. So I set them up like little petit fours on a cheese plate from Alessi (I couldn’t find a cute cake plate).

These bears are actually nylon eco bags. I thought they’d be good party favours. Here they are leaning on my whimsical teapot from home.

And I was running out of ideas and needed some colour so I picked up these playful glasses also from Dimensione. The napkins are actually waffle fabric tea towels from Ito Kish store. I just folded them to make them look like napkins.

Then I thought it needed more softness – so I brought out my Cath Kidston tea set.

And to pull everything together, I placed little bolster pillows on the back of each chair. Luckily Ito had some floral pillows in his store.

Here’s the current Metro Home issue. It’s also available digitally on Zinio. Support, support! It’s a great issue. Lovely country homes.

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I apologize to my Twittter followers if I sound redundant. But this is the first time I’m posting this here in my blog. This won’t be the last though. (Warning, I will be on Vogue Italia high all week).

Last Friday night, my Vogue Italia interview went live online. I cannot begin to tell you how incredible it’s been – from the time they emailed me, to when I answered the interview, to when I taped my video at home, then waited almost a week for it to come out online. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Vogue Italia would notice me/my blog, let alone give me a full feature – with a photo gallery and video!

My feature falls under the category “News”. This is the main page of the News section.

And the subcategory “Vogue Features” in People Are Talking About.

There’s a video shot at our home.

Here is the Vogue Italia feature online. Please do me a favour and send Vogue Italia some love. They gave me the opportunity to share our beautiful Philippines. Please share, repost, retweet the link. And if you want, please leave a comment on their site.

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I was invited to be a presenter at the 25th PMPC Star Awards at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre at Resorts World last Tuesday. I had to cut my Cebu trip short just to make in in time. But because of flight delays and all, I ended up not being able to get my hair and makeup done. I also didn’t have time to visit designers for a long dress. So I just winged it. I did my own makeup and I wore a dress from a couple of years ago.

The hosts of the evening were Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Shamcey Supsup and Piolo Pascual.

Lea Salonga sang the opening number.

Boy Abunda, KC Concepcion, Toni Gonzaga for The Buzz.

Nora Aunor presented Boy Abunda with his Hall of Famer Award.

It has been a while since my last Star Awards. I’ve won three Best Lifestyle Show Host Awards, in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Funny though that the program doesn’t list the 2004 win. I distinctly remember winning that because I was there and we tied with Charlene Gonzales. Oh well.

This time Urban Zone was nominated again as Best Lifestyle Show and so was I, as Best Lifestyle Show Host. I wasn’t expecting to win against the big network shows. And we didn’t. Oh well. Haha. But Trip Na Trip did – as Best Travel Show and Best Travel Show Host. So because I was the only one from Bayan Productions that was there, I accepted the award for Kat De Castro. Photo by Enrico DC.

I had to go a up second time. This was for Best Travel Show Host. It wasn’t really my moment and I wish Kat & Uma were there. But I was very happy for them. Photo by Enrico DC.

I co-presented the awards for Best News Program, Best Male News Anchor and Best Female News Anchor with Kimpee De Leon. Photo by Enrico DC.

And this is what my dress looked like from behind. I wore this early last year for my birthday party. It’s by Dolce & Gabbana. The black ruffle is supposed to be pouffy but I was sitting for more than 3 hours waiting to present my bit so they’re a bit flattened. Wore them with black Louboutin pumps and my own jewellery. Earrings are rubies and opals. The bracelet is that ruby and pearl tassel that I love to wear over and over.

Thank you, PMPC for the sweet nomination and invitation. Special thanks to Jun Lalin who is always so nice to me whenever we see each other. He escorted me in to the theatre. I arrived by myself. He sat me in a very nice and comfortable spot with the ABS-CBN talents Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford. All the great veteran stars were there – Nora Aunor, Susan Roces, Helen Gamboa, Kuya Germs. I have to say that though I wasn’t in my element, it was a very pleasant evening and I enjoyed being with my colleagues in television.